Approximately 50% of adolescent athletes with persistent lumbar pain can be diagnosed
with spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis. The remaining 50% will have suffered injury
of the vertebral body, intervertebral disc, ring apophysis, pelvis, articular processes,
spinous processes, interspinous ligament, or other soft tissues of the lumbar spine.
The adolescent spine is prone to these injuries as a consequence of the growth spurt
and skeletal immaturity. Accurate diagnosis is mandatory in order to achieve successful
treatment. History, physical examination, imaging modalities, and precision spinal
injections can be employed to accurately diagnose the source of the symptoms. Appropriate
treatment measures can then be prescribed to optimally treat the adolescent spine
injury.